Comments on: A Postal Post: 6 Crazy Stories of Mail Bonding

By: Cliff

Cliff — Sat, 19 May 2007 01:19:12 +0000

The story about John Underwood, I first heard from my father about 50 years ago. And it sounded like it had been around a long time then.

I have a feeling that the post office is wise to the return address trick. (They’ve probably seen it about 10,000 times.) One tip-off would be if the letter is not mailed in the return address city.

And, finally, I once wrote a check for state income tax due payable to “Reagan’s Looters and Thieves.” It was cashed without comment and returned to me with my bank statement. At the risk of starting a new thread here, I also once wrote a check to “Cash” on a blank piece of paper. It, too, was cashed without comment and returned to me with my bank statement. I don’t think you can do that any more!

By: Skye

Skye — Thu, 17 May 2007 20:34:43 +0000

A postcard was once addressed with just my name and “Hollywood, CA” (I live in Los Angeles) and it got to me just fine!

ps. If you’re going to do the “return address” scam, make sure you drop the letter in a blue mailbox. Most postal carriers won’t even take the letter from a personal mailbox if it has no postage.

By: MikiD54

MikiD54 — Thu, 17 May 2007 17:47:37 +0000

My home state of West Virginia is often confused with that other state next door called just Virginia. Therefore, we often call our state “WEST (by God) Virginia” just to keep people straight on which state we were from. I once addressed a letter to my Mom in our little hometown in West (by God) Virginia and the USPS returned it to me and refused to deliver it with that designation on it! Bunch of spoil sports.

By: Ross

Ross — Thu, 17 May 2007 12:02:43 +0000

At the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, there is a small display of letters that were sent in unique ways. The one that sticks in my mind has simply a pencil sketch of Rogers in profile and the word “California” on the envelope. Will Rogers was so well known that the letter was delivered without any trouble!

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 17 May 2007 07:53:29 +0000

Our Town

Wired Magazine Mail Contest

By: miss sparkle

miss sparkle — Mon, 14 May 2007 16:43:50 +0000

One day I would love to try to write the address I want the letter to go to in the return address space and my address on the address in the center space. Then if I don’t attach a stamp they’ll send it to the return address..which is where I would want it to go! That might be kinda illegal though….

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 13 May 2007 03:46:13 +0000

i mailed (and was mailed) a good sized (maybe a foot in diameter) rubber ball with the message and address written on it with sharpie.

By: Info Yo

Info Yo — Fri, 11 May 2007 19:44:07 +0000

When my Grandfather was in Hawaii he mailed a coconut to my Mom. The post office just stapled the stamps to the husk.

By: John Brown

John Brown — Fri, 11 May 2007 17:37:10 +0000

Hello n2y2, I agree, sometimes when we have what could be considered neat inside information we want to explain it faster than we are thinking. If you want a lot of good ideas on fraud via mail, checks, credit cards, etc…., i suggest you all read the book “Art of the Steal”. It was written by the same person that the movie “Catch Me if You Can” was about. If your up to no good you will love it. I can’t believe they actually print some of the things that they do. Hopefully i addressed your question n2y2. Thanks…….

By: John

John — Fri, 11 May 2007 01:41:52 +0000

Don’t know if it’s true but I read (possibly in that Bill Bryson book) that a letter addressed

WOOD
JOHN
MASS.

was successfully delivered to John Underwood, Andover, Massachusetts…